The launch of the North-West America at Nootka Sound, 1788

May 13, 1788, approximately 50-70 Chinese workers, primarily craftsmen, arrived on Vancouver Island with British fur trader Captain John Meares. This marks one of the earliest documented instances of Chinese presence in what is now Canada. These artisans were brought to Nootka Sound to build a trading post and a schooner. While their initial stay was temporary, this event signifies the very beginning of a long and complex history of Chinese contributions to the development of British Columbia and Canada. It predates the major waves of immigration for gold rushes and railway construction, highlighting an early, often overlooked, chapter in the story of Chinese Canadians and their foundational role in the region's early economic activities.